Castle of Villafranca del Bierzo (León)

View of the castle from the south-east

The castle of the Marquis of Villafranca was rebuilt towards the year 1515 by Pedro Álvarez de Toledo y Zúñiga, over other previous known with the name of "Force", destroyed in 1507 by the illegitimate son of the first Earl of Lemos, Pedro Álvarez Osorio. It has quadrangular shape with four towers at the corners, being south-west angle of homage tower.

Main facade on the east side

Front door in brick

Coat of arms of the Marquis of Villafranca III over the main door

South-east tower

Detail of the window of one of the towers

North-east tower

Canvas of the north wall 

North-west tower

Detail of one of the rectangular parapets for firearms

Canvas of the outer wall and homage tower at the south-west angle

Slate roof crowning the homage tower

South view of the castle

The castle above the rooftops of the population

Villafranca del Bierzo

South-west view of the population from the bridge over the river Burbia

Villafranca del Bierzo is a municipality in the province of León in the Autonomous Community of Castilla and Leon, located to the west of the region of El Bierzo. It is part of the Camino de Santiago, where the indulgence you can earn is in the church dedicated to the apostle. It is one of the Leon municipalities in which Galician spoken.

Main Square

Town Hall

Church of Santiago

Collegiate of Santa María of Cluniaco

Church of San Nicolás El Real

Church of St. Francis of Assisi

Towers located in the center of the hall of the church of St. Francis of Assisi

Palace of Arganza

House-Palace of the Torquemada

Coats of arms on the façade of the House-Palace of the Toledo

Typical wooden balconies

Gardens of the Alameda in the broad square Diego Saavedra

Location of the castle of Villafranca del Bierzo